There is a reason why he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2018. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 240 pounds, Robert Brazile dominated on the field and had one of the greatest nicknames ever. After leaving Chicago, Marshall proved he was elite by winning a Super Bowl and NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the Washington Football Team (then known as the Redskins). The former Green Bay Packers middle linebacker was a key member of the team and the leader on the defensive side of the football that helped the Packers win five NFL Championships and Super Bowl I and II Championships. How tough was the "City Champ"? High school: Washington County High School (Sandersville, Georgia), Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1998-2002), Buffalo Bills (2003-06), Philadelphia Eagles (2007), San Francisco 49ers (2008-10), San Diego Chargers (2011-12), Career highlights: Two-time Pro Bowl (2003, 2004), NFL All-Pro (2004). Over his career Nitschke would rack up 25 career interceptions while being named First Team All-Pro in 11 different seasons. The on-field brains behind Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryans famed 1985 Bears defense, Singletary is undeniably one of the greatest to ever play the position.5. Modern football fans might be seeing the name Hardy Nickerson for the first time, but the old heads know him as one of the more dominant linebackers of his era who had the misfortune of playing most of his career with mediocre teams. Fletcher carved out a 16-year NFL career, including a Super Bowl win with the Rams in his second season. Forester was a nondescript linebacker for his first six seasons with the Packers, until Lombardi was hired in 1959 and the SMU product's career took off. You could say he was as close to a Lawrence Taylor version of a linebacker the NFL ever had before we got the real thing. Born: Jan. 19, 1932 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), High school: Brentwood High School (Brentwood, Pennsylvania), Career highlights: Two-time NFL champion (1953, 1957), 10-time All-Pro (1954-63), 10-time Pro Bowl (1954-63), NFL Defensive Most Valuable Player (1960, 1963), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1973). Darryl Talley was a physical and athletic marvel during his playing career, and his consistency was truly something to behold. Play in a Super Bowl. Chad Brown was the type of player who could do almost anything on the defensive front. New Orleans Saints, 1986-1994; Carolina Panthers, 1995-1997 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro once Recorded 1,142 career tackles, New Orleans Saints, 1986-1992; Detroit Lions, 1993-1994; Oakland Raiders, 1995-1998 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro twice Recorded 107.5 career sacks, New York Giants, 1984-1992; Washington Redskins, 1993; Cleveland Browns, 1994-1995 Two-time Super Bowl champion Voted to one Pro Bowl, First Team All-Pro once Recorded 39.5 career sacks and 826 career tackles, Detroit Lions, 1988-1995; Buffalo Bills, 1996-1997 Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro once Recorded 1,181 career tackles, Miami Dolphins, 1996-2007; Dallas Cowboys, 2008 Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro five times Recorded 1,100 career tackles, Los Angeles Rams, 1954-1962 Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro once Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Boston Patriots, 1962-1968; Miami Dolphins, 1969-1976 Two-time Super Bowl champion Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro five times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cincinnati Bengals, 1969-1973; Philadelphia Eagles, 1974-1980 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro twice, Chicago Bears, 1955-1966 One-time NFL champion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times, St. Louis Rams, 1998-2001; Buffalo Bills, 2002-2006; Washington Redskins, 2007-2013 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to four Pro Bowls Recorded 1,380 career tackles, Washington Redskins, 1965-1978 Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Giants, 1976-1988 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to nine Pro Bowls Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Giants, 1956-1963; Washington Redskins 1964-1969 One-time NFL champion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro twice Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Steelers 2002-2012, 2014-2017; Cincinnati Bengals 2013; New England Patriots 2017 Two-time Super Bowl champion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro twice Recorded 84.5 career sacks, 793 tackles, Denver Broncos, 1974-1983 Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro twice, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1981-1985; Miami Dolphins, 1985-1991 Voted to two Pro Bowls, Dallas Cowboys, 1963-1976 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro once, San Francisco 49ers, 2007-2014 Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro five times Recorded 732 tackles in eight career NFL seasons, New England Patriots, 1982-1993 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro twice Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Chicago Bears, 1948-1955 Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, 2005-2013; Denver Broncos, 2014-2016 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Recorded 138.5 career sacks, which ranks No. Spikes is one of just seven linebackers in NFL history to register over 200 career starts, and he never had less than 70 tackles in 15 NFL seasons. Super Bowl XXXV MVP Ranking the top linebackers to ever suit up in the National Football League is far from easy. First, he went to junior college in Fort Scott, Kansas. Playing defensive tackle/end for the first two seasons of his NFL career, Connor became a linebacker when Bears head coach George Halas wanted to try and find a way to neutralize Philadelphia running back Steve Van Buren, so he had Connor stand up outside of the tight end to check Van Buren. He's been nothing but consistent since those days of Seahawks dominance in the league. Super Bowl XXVIII champion Over the last few years, the Bears have featured names like Lance Briggs and Khalil Mack. Keeping all aspects of the job in mind, we rank the top 25 greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. He won an NFL championship for Chicago in 1963. 8-time Pro Bowler A post shared by Juan Diaz (@juandiaz0620). The former North Carolina Tar Heel is both a member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and the 100th Anniversary Team. Perhaps the most dominant defensive player of his generation, like so many other great linebackers on this list, Khalil Mack has had the misfortune of playing on some truly horrendous teams throughout the early portion of his career with the Raiders and the Bears. Klein was signed as the insurance policy. Not many linebackers can boast the athleticism of Urlacher, who set the single-season Bears record with 153 tackles in 2002 and owns the team's career tackles record with 1,361. "I'm Samurai Mike, I stop 'em cold," was the start of his "Super Bowl Shuffle" verse. Introduction Despite a 101-year history, the Cardinals haven't produced a Hall of Famer at linebackerbut they've still had plenty of . While some of the linebackers on this list probably wouldn't even get a second look in today's NFL because of their size, Wilcox (who's the father of Cal head coach Justin Wilcox) is actually the opposite. In addition, Willis was the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year, led the NFL in tackles in two different seasons, was a seven time Pro Bowler and a five time First Team All-Pro. In addition to having the greatest linebacker of All-Time in Ray Lewis, 20 years of Ravens football has seen some incredible linebackers. ranked by. 8-time first-team All-Pro High school: Clarkstown High School North (New City, New York), Teams: Tennessee Titans (2000-09), New York Giants (2010), Career highlights:Three-time NFL All-Pro (2002, 2003, 2007), Pro Bowl (2003). The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. It's fitting that Khalil Mack now plays for the Chicago Bears. It was the second title in franchise history for the Bucs, and the three-time NFL All-Pro doesn't seem to be slowing down even in his 10th season. Super Bowl XL champion Born: Dec. 29, 1936 (Elmwood Park, Illinois), Died: March 8, 1998 (age 61, Venice, Florida), High school: Proviso East High School (Mayfield, Illinois), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (1966, 1967), three-time NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965), Pro Bowl (1964), seven-time All-Pro (1962-67, 1969), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1978). Lawrence Taylor isn't just the greatest linebacker of all time. Lambert is a member of the NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team, the 1980s All-Decade Team, the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team, and the league's 100th Anniversary Team. 45:47. It is hard to look past Jack Lambert as one of the Top 10 Middle Linebackers All-Time based on his career resume and his play on the football field. His best season was in 2008, when he had over 100 tackles and helped lead the Arizona Cardinals to an NFC championship and into the Super Bowl. The league's top prospects stepped into the NFL Photo studio for Draft portraits. Born: Dec. 15, 1940 (Springfield, Massachusetts), Died: July 30, 2019 (age 78, Bridgehampton, New York), High school: Cathedral High School (Springfield, Massachusetts), Teams: Boston Patriots (1962-68), Miami Dolphins (19690-74, 1976), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (1972, 1973), two-time Pro Bowl (1972, 1973), two-time All-Pro (1972, 1973), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2001). 5-time Pro Bowler15. 2020 Stats: 69 Solo, 0 Sacks, 0 FF, 3 INT. Ham, with the size of a free safety, was as quick as any running back or wide receiver in the 10 yards from the line of scrimmage and recorded a gaudy 32 interceptions and 53 takeaways in his career while helping the Steelers win four Super Bowl. Lambert hauled in 28 INTs and scooped up 17 fumble recoveries. Les Richter was an amazing football player and had size and speed that could have landed him on NFL rosters in any era. A name that may have been slotted inside of the top five on the list of middle linebackers if his career was longer is the former San Francisco 49ers great Patrick Willis. How would you rank the greatest Middle Linebackers in history? Karl Mecklenburg, Denver Broncos (1983-94) The Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams middle linebacker, Bill George is the one single man that is known for creating the middle linebacker position. It was a good fit. The latest in an historic line of Hall of Fame caliber Bears middle linebackers, Urlacher has produced 41.5 sacks, 22 INTs returned for 324 yards and two TDs, 11 forced fumbles and 15 fumble recoveries returned for 177 yards and one TD during his career. Pat Swilling was part of perhaps the finest assembly of linebackers in NFL history the New Orleans Saints' famous "Dome Patrol" of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Buoniconti would go on to register 32 interceptions over his career between the AFL and NFL. High school: Colony High School (Ontario, California), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2013), six-time Pro Bowl (2014-19), six-time All-Pro (2014-19), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. . Continue with Recommended Cookies, Ranking the best Middle Linebackers in the history of the NFL such as Ray Lewis, Mike Singletary, and many more, By Fan Rankings | October 23, 2021 - 07:34 PM. Richter, who died of a brain aneurysm in 2010, had a lengthy career in motorsports after his football career was over and is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Motorsports Hall of Fame. We asked 50 experts to vote for the NFL's all-time greatest edge rusher, cornerback and kicker. The middle linebacker position is the equivalent of the quarterback position on defense. He returned to play the rest of the season with a specially made helmet because his jaw was wired shut. Those are both more than Mecklenburg's career totals, and Gradishar played two fewer seasons. He led the University of Minnesota to a national title in 1960, then won two AFL championships and a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs. After the 2023 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans have four Alabama linebackers - Will Anderson Jr., Christian Harris, DeMeco Ryans and Henry To'oTo'o - except Ryans is the head coach and . I had the pleasure of meeting him when I was younger before he passed. He led the NFL in tackles three times (1997, 1999, 2001) during his 17 years in Baltimore. The Top Ten Greatest NFL Middle Linebackers of all Time 10.) But for all his individual success, he never made the playoffs.4. In 11 dominant NFL seasons, Dave Wilcox only missed one game due to injury and confounded opposing offenses with his ability to elude blocks at the most basic level. Kendricks has also recorded 100 plus tackles in each of the past five seasons. Both players led their team to a Super Bowl, and for Gradishar, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, the year the Broncos won an AFC title. He was a second team All-American in 2011 when he racked up career highs with 13.5 tackles for loss and five sacks to go with 128 tackles. 8-time first-team All-Pro He started all 26 games at middle linebacker the last two seasons. His play on the field was filled with passion and talent that helped him become one of the best to play the game. Born: Sept. 20, 1943 (San Antonio, Texas), Died: Dec. 13, 2017 (age 74, Marietta, Georgia), High school: Thomas Jefferson High School (San Antonio, Texas), Career highlights: NFL Rookie of the Year (1966), five-time Pro Bowl (1966-68, 1970, 1972), two-time All-Pro (1967, 1968), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. His 10 All-Pro selections are tied for the NFL career record alongside Lawrence Taylor. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. An eighth-round pick by the Eagles in 1986 out of UTEP, he was actually cut during his first training camp before being resigned during the season. With the combination of speed and power, he is one of the greatest linebackers to ever play in NFL history. He joined the military for two years out of high school before going to play football for the University of North Carolina. He started 167 of a possible 173 games during his 13-year career, so he was always ready to play. Ranking the 10 best linebackers in Raiders history Podcast Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West. NFL Championship Game MVP (1962) Sam Huff almost left his rookie training camp with the New York Giants when coaches couldn't find a position for him. Here is every player who has ever held the position of New Orleans Saints starting linebacker. The Chicago Bears great was as good of a run stopper as defender against the pass and one player that could play sideline to sideline. In Forester's final five seasons, he made all four of his Pro Bowls, all five of his All-Pro teams and helped lead Green Bay to its first two NFL titles under Lombardi. Tales of Butkus' exploits would make you think he played several decades in the NFL, but his career was just nine seasons. Over his career, Lewis helped lead the Ravens to two Super Bowl championships while being named Super Bowl XXXV MVP. Please logout and login again. You may have never heard of Joe Schmidt, but he was the single most dominant NFL linebacker through the 1950s and the early part of the 1960s. Starters: Robert Spillane, Divine Deablo. And, yeah, he really did. Will Levis lands with the Tennessee Titans: Will Levis' slide ends early on Day 2, with the Titans trading up to Pick 33 to grab the signal-caller. Owen Pappoe, Auburn. Posted 8 Days Ago 1. In one of the greatest single rounds for any team in NFL draft history, the Rams used their two 1971 first-round picks on Robertson and NFL Hall of Fame defensive lineman Jack Youngblood. 5-time NFL Championship Game winner He finished his career with over 2,000 tackles (2,039), which is second on the NFL's all-time list, and set the NFL record for linebackers with 215 consecutive starts. Brooks, like so many players on this list, played his entire career with just one team. Devine was the worst. All Rights Reserved. 13-time Pro Bowler This stroke of genius created not only the middle linebacker position, but the 4-3 defense. The Bears have fielded four of the best middle linebackers in NFL history: Dick Butkus, Bill George, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher. Super Bowl VIII champion To his teammates, his eyes stood for leadership. Nick Buoniconti, Boston Patriots (1962-68), Miami Dolphins (69-76)Hall of Fame, Class of 2001 On offense, he played center, and on defense, he was a linebacker, where he earned a reputation as one of the most devastating tacklers of all time. The former Miami Hurricane is a member of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team and a member of the NFL's 100th Anniversary Team. They paled in comparison but were great players in their own right most notably Wilber Marshall. It's actually confounding why more of a Hall of Fame case hasn't been made for Thomas. Chuck Howley thought his career was over due to a devastating knee injury just three games into the 1959 season with the Chicago Bears. Tedy Bruschi, New England Patriots (1996-2008) Jackson retired in the top three in NFL history for sacks (128) and fumble recoveries (28). Quite simply, if you saw No. No NFL team has the linebacker tradition of the Bears, who boast Hall of Famers Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, Urlacher and Mack, a future Hall of Famer, among their all-time greats. Bobby Bell could do it all. For an optimal experience please rotate your device to portrait mode, After being considered by most teams too small, the Boston Patriots selected Nick Buoniconti with the teams 13. round selection. High school: Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School (Cleveland, Ohio), Teams: St. Louis Rams (1998-2001), Buffalo Bills (2002-06), Washington Football Team (2007-13), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1999), four-time Pro Bowl (2009-12), two-time All-Pro (2011, 2012). High School: Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas, Texas), Career highlights: Four-time Pro Bowl (1959-62), five-time All-Pro (1959-63), two-time NFL champion (1961, 1962). Lambert, who the Pittsburgh Steelers selected with the 46th pick during the 1974 NFL draft, showcased his abilities during his rookie season in route to helping solidify the Steelers defense and winning Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Johnson, at 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds, was a high school star in Central Texas at Waco High before becoming an All-American at the University of Texas and an NFL All-Pro. The quarterback position is long known to be the field general on the offensive side of the ball and the one position that handles the play calling duties. Born: June 28, 1936 (Wheeling, West Virginia), High school: Warwood High School (Wheeling, West Virginia), NFL career: 15 seasons (1958-60, 1961-73), Teams: Chicago Bears (1958-59), Dallas Cowboys (1961-73), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1971), Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (1970), six-time Pro Bowl (1965-69, 1971), six-time Pro Bowl (1966-71). He was selected to the 1990s All-Decade team. In addition, Lewis was a two time Defensive Player of the Year, seven time First Team All-Pro and a 13 time Pro Bowler. Take a look at some of the best photos of Aaron Rodgers from throughout the years! He helped lead Florida State to its first national title in 1993 and a decade later put together his greatest NFL seasons, winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors and leading the Buccaneers to their only Super Bowl win in 2002. And Farrior, nicknamed "The Ultimate Farrior" by fans, was a huge part of that. He's also the greatest defensive player of all time. High school: Worthing High School (Houston), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1985), 10-time Pro Bowl (1983-82), nine-time All-Pro (1983-91), two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, 1988), three-time NFC Player of the Year (1984, 1985, 1988), NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1998). He was 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash. Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos (1974-83) Born: Aug. 25, 1965 (Birmingham, Alabama), High school: Ensley High School (Birmingham, Alabama), Teams: Buffalo Bills (1987-95), Atlanta Falcons (1996-98), Indianapolis Colts (1999-2000), Career highlights: Two-time AFC Defensive Player of the Year (1988, 1991), five-time Pro Bowl (1988, 1990-93), three-time All-Pro (1988, 1991, 1992), AFC Defensive Team of the Decade (2000s). 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year On the football field Chuck Bednarik was one of the toughest players to play the game and possibly the best tackler to set forth on a football field. 8-time Pro Bowler Over his career, Lambert recorded 1,479 career tackles with 28 interceptions and 23.5 career sacks. 55, Seau went on to become a legend in San Diego. 5-time first-team All-Pro Two players of the four players with more tackles, Ray Lewis and Junior Seau, are in the Hall of Fame. Analysis: Nothing against this group of . Super Bowl XIII champion 66) and Bart Starr (No. Like Lewis, Lawrence Taylor is also one of the most feared defenders in NFL history. 9-time Pro Bowler All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. By Eddie Brown. Zach Thomas, Miami Dolphins (1996-2007), Dallas Cowboys (08) 8-time Pro Bowler Hall of Fame, Class of 1982 6-time Pro Bowler12. Over his career, Bednarick helped guide the Eagles to two NFL Championships while being named to eight Pro Bowl teams and selected eight times as a First Team All-Pro.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); When considering great middle linebackers it is hard to look past another Chicago Bear All-Pro who racked up a pretty solid NFL career. Check out some of the best photos from the 2023 NFL Draft! Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was the top pick for Commanders General Manager Martin Mayhew, left, and . New York native and former Syracuse star Keith Bulluck helped define the early years of the Tennessee Titans as part of the team that came within one yard of winning a Super Bowl. Off the field, Lewis' career was almost over before it started. Join the contest by ranking below. No player has been as consistent on the defensive side of the ball, start to finish, as Ray Lewis was in his 17 seasons for the Baltimore Ravens. How deep was Nitschke in pop culture during his career? And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. 1 overall pick in the 1949 NFL draft, Bednarik led the Eagles to a championship in 1949 and in 1960, where he made the game-saving tackle as time ran out. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. It's on Sean McDermott & Co. to coach up whoever mans the middle. He only played six games in his final season before retiring because of a nagging toe injury. For Fortunato, it was Dick Butkus, and for Gradishar, it was Karl Mecklenburg. Robertson's size, speed and athleticism often made the difference in games for the Rams. Chris Simms and Mike Florio draft their top middle linebackers of all time. Nick Buoniconti Nick Buoniconti played for the Boston Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Sam Huff, New York Giants (1956-63), Washington Redskins (64-69) Lewis was the face of the franchise and the energizer of the defensive dominance. Richter didn't miss a game in nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and made seven All-Pro teams. Arizona had until May 2 to make a final . Born: June 17, 1940 (Shelby, North Carolina), High school: Cleveland High School (Shelby, North Carolina), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two-time All-Pro (1970, 1971), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1969), NFL 100th Anniversary Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1983). Super Bowl XLVII champion High school: Crestwood High School (Mantua, Ohio), Career highlights: Four-time Super Bowl champion (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979), nine-time Pro Bowl (1975-83), eight-time All-Pro (1975, 1976, 1978-83), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1976), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1974), NFL 100th Anniversary Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1990). 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year Middle linebackers are the quarterbacks of the defense, the nerve center of a stop-unit. High school: Excel High School (Excel, Alabama), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1971), NFC Defensive Player of the Year (1973), five-time Pro Bowl (1967-69, 1973, 1974), two-time All-Pro (1969, 1973). He was 74 years old. Born: Aug. 17, 1949 (New Orleans, Louisiana), Died: Dec. 6, 2018 (age 69, Dallas, Texas), High school: Covington High School (Covington, Louisiana), Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1971-78), Buffalo Bills (1979-82), Career highlights: Six-time Pro Bowl (1971-77), six-time All-Pro (1971, 1973-77), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1971).
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